Leaving Home

Our family is leaving this morning for five months in Budapest.  I will be directing the Calvin College Semester Abroad in Hungary program in partnership with several universities and schools, churches, and social service agencies all over Budapest, Hungary's capital city.  The kids will be studying via distance learning, in collaboration with teachers from their schools in Grand Rapids, with a few on-line courses as well.  Julie will be helping both me and the kids do their work as well as they can.  All of us will be learning alot.

The sunflower is from our "Martin Luther garden."  All summer I've been thinking about the legendary quote from Luther where, when asked what he would do if he knew Jesus would return tomorrow, said he would plant a tree.  We planted our garden this past spring knowing that we wouldn't see its fruit.  So we leave this morning, for gardens unknown, with one sunflower leading the pack, and one ripening red tomato.  Tomorrow, God willing, we arrive in Budapest and begin a new chapter of adventures, preparing for the arrival of 18 Calvin students next week.  From this morning's Diary of Private Prayer: "O God we praise you for the bright and beautiful world into which we go."  Amen.